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SFPUC expands water‑conservation work: city executive order, tenant pass‑through proposal and resale fixture requirements
Summary
PUC staff described a city executive order and multiple conservation initiatives including a 10% departmental reduction order, a second‑year Water Saving Hero campaign, tenant pass‑through legislation proposals (50% pass‑through) and draft plumbing/building code changes to require water‑efficient fixtures on resale and commercial upgrades.
At the July 8 meeting the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission reviewed water conservation initiatives and pending legislation intended to reduce citywide water use and update plumbing standards.
Laura Spangen (PUC) described two launches: the second year of the Water Saving Hero public campaign and a mayoral executive order requiring all city departments to reduce water use by 10%, complete efficiency audits by Oct. 1 and repair indoor leaks by Nov. 1. The commission also has budgets added to help Rec and Park and Public Works replace irrigation fixtures.
On legislation, staff said they are working with the Board of Supervisors on a pass‑through proposal that would allow landlords to pass through 50% of water and wastewater increases to tenants, with a potential 70% pass‑through only if landlords install water‑efficient appliances. That bill had its first Land Use Committee hearing and was continued to July 21 for further amendment. Staff also presented two draft code amendments — to the housing and building codes — that would require water‑efficient fixtures (toilets, showerheads, faucets) to meet updated plumbing standards at the point of resale for residential properties and upon tenant improvements for commercial properties.
Dana Haas, Water Conservation Administrator, described current programs and funding: approximately $1,000,000 in rebate funding last year (with an add‑back this year), expanded commercial rebates and a pilot performance program paying high‑use customers per acre‑foot saved. She outlined outreach and education efforts, including targeted commercial outreach, expanded ethnic media, TV advertising and a new K‑5 education program. Staff estimated a projected savings of about 14.5 million gallons per day by a target date (cited as projected savings by 02/3010 in the baseline), driven in part by plumbing code changes.
Commissioners and public stakeholders supported the measures but raised enforcement and implementation questions (how pass‑through is calculated, use of rooms vs units or fixtures as a basis, and enforcement at point of sale). Staff and the City Attorney said existing point‑of‑sale compliance mechanisms produce high compliance rates and outreach would be expanded.
